Joss Whedon on his ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Frustrations

A year ago Marvel were busy gearing up for the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron. The film raked in plenty of box office returns but not everyone was happy with Joss Whedon’s sequel, including the director himself. Deadline have reported that he’s opened up about his experience with the film, and the chances of him returning to Marvel.

While on last year’s press tour Whedon made no secret that he was forced to cut parts of the film. Many of his comments suggested that the process was out of his hands, with the studio trying to juggle the needs of the film with their shared universe. Whedon looked exhausted while doing press for the film, so it’s hardly surprising that he regrets much of it now.

Whedon did a Q&A alongside Mark Ruffalo at the Tribeca Film Festival where he said the following:

Ultron, I’m very proud of. There were things that did not meet my expectations of myself and then I was so beaten down by the process. Some of that was conflicting with Marvel, which is inevitable and a lot of that was about my own work and I was also exhausted, and we right away went and did publicity. I created the narrative — wherein I’m not quite accomplished at– and people just ran with (about Ultron) ‘Well it’s OK, it could be better, but it’s not Joss’ fault’ and I think that did a disservice to the movie, and to the studio and to myself. Ultimately, it wasn’t the right way to be because I’m very proud about it.

It doesn’t seem like the director has completely made peace with the film. After defending his Avengers sequel he added, “The things about it that are wrong frustrate me enormously.”

Despite spending a gruelling five years directing the two Avengers movies it seems like Whedon did leave on good terms. He told Deadline that he may return to the studio in the future, as long as they’d have him back. For now the Russo brothers have taken responsibility, as they gear up to direct Avengers: Infinity War parts one and two.

Aaron Rogan

<p>Decided to take up journalism to hide the fact I’m secretly a super powered alien from Krypton. Turns out I’m not that good at keeping secrets. When I’m not writing about films, TV or sport I’m most likely watching films, TV or sport.</p>